Saturday, March 01, 2025

My short, non-exhaustive reply to a 2:15 video from a Rabbi: Satire Und Theology Version


My short non-exhaustive reply to a 2:15 video from a Rabbi

Jewish Rabbi Message To The Christians: TikTok

@path_towards_jannah

Video Point 1

'the very idea that god would take on human form as repulsive to the Jews'

Genesis 3: 8 

Did God take human form to walk in Genesis 3: 8? 


New American Standard Bible: NASB 

Genesis 3: 8

They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 


Air Time By Skip Moen, PhD, October 20, 2022

Cited 

'And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking about in the garden . . . Genesis 3:8a Robert Alter 

Walking – Sometimes our English translations cripple Hebrew intention. Verses become pedestrian instead of surprising. We read them as if they had nothing more to say than our simple-minded interpretation. We reduce the biblical chess board to a game of tik-tac-toe. It’s time to complicate things. 

We’ve looked at the underlying Hebrew density in this verse before (HERE and HERE), but we haven’t plumbed the depths yet. Let’s add another layer. 

“The ideal of halakhic man is that the Divine Presence should rest here in this world. . . [Exodus 25:22] This verse represents the ultimate telos of the Halakhah. ‘R. Aba bar Kahana said: It is not written in the text, “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking [mehalekh: pi’el form] in the garden” but “And they heard the voice of the Lord God skipping [mithalekh: hitpa’el form] in the garden” (Gen. 3:8). This [use of the reflexive] implies that He sprang ever upward [i.e., they heard God departing from the garden]. The principle abode of the Divine Presence was in the lower realms.’”[1] 

Some clarification, perhaps? First, something about the verbal form, hitpa’el. Then a comment about reflexive action: 

Generally speaking, the Hithpael stem expresses the reflexive voice of the meaning of a verb in the Piel stem. However, the Hithpael stem is quite flexible in its use and can express other kinds of verbal action, depending on the context and the specific verb. 

Reflexive voice means that the subject of the verb is both performing and receiving the verbal action. In English, reflexive voice is expressed using a reflexive pronoun as the object of the verb, “I tell myself”.[2] 

Kushner informs us that the voice was moving back and forth in all directions. Rabbi Kahana informs us that the voice was habituated to this world. We conclude: God is everywhere customarily here. Put aside the “God on the white throne in heaven” imagery. Shelve it. The place where God wants to be is here, with us, in His creation, part of the process. The Bible is just about as opposite of the dualism of Plato as it could possibly be, and as a result, any theology that fixes its perspective on a transcendent God is, as Soloveitchik might say, close to heresy. Heaven can wait. In fact, it shouldn’t even be part of the equation. What matters is what happens here, and here is the real place of the divine-human habitation. God skips around all over the earth, enjoying what we’re doing with Him. 

Topical Index: mithalekh, walking, skipping, Avivah Kushner, Rabbi Kahana, Genesis 3:8 [1] Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Halakhic Man (JPS, 1983), pp. 53-54. [2] https://uhg.readthedocs.io/en/latest/stem_hithpael.html'

End citations
---

From this Hebrew commentary, I take it that God might have been metaphorically walking through the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3: 8. From this cited scholarship, it is not crystal clear that God walking in the Garden of Eden was strictly metaphorical, but it seems that this cited writer views Genesis as describing the 'God skips around all over the earth'.

Cited 

'3. Walking - she-ha-ya’ 

'The above evolution of the text of Rashi from a singular concept of p’shat to a two-level concept of p’shat explains a third variant in the manuscripts. This relates to Rashi’s insertion of the word: ‘she-ha-yah’ (that was), to assist with the understanding of the precise meaning of verse. The verse states: ‘They heard the sound of G-d walking (mit-ha-lech) about in the garden at the breezy time of day.’ Rashi, in the printed edition, adds: ‘she-ha-ya’ (that was) between ‘the sound of G-d’ and ‘walking’ (mit-ha-lech). The difficulty in the meaning fo the text is: does ‘walking’ (mit-ha-lech) relate to ‘G-d’ – the word juxtaposed to the word: ‘walking’ (mit-ha-lech), or the ‘sound’ (kol) – the earlier word? The most literal meaning is the former, relating to ‘G-d,’ since, firstly, ‘sound’ does not ‘walk’ in a garden, in the literal sense; it may be heard in the garden. On the other hand, G-d is omnipresent. For this reason, the midrash interprets in its first explanation that ‘walking’ refers to the ‘sound’ (kol). This, however, by definition is an opinion that appears in the midrash. As Rashi is making a distinction between midrash and p’shat, it would seem to be rejecting this interpretation, as well as other more far-fetched midrashic interpretations, in favour of the p’shat: it refers literally to G-d, who was walking in the garden. To clarify this point in the printed edition, Rashi inserts the word: ‘she-haya’ (that was) between the words: ‘the sound of G-d’ (kol Ha-shem Elo-kim) and ‘walking’ (mit-ha-lech), identifying G-d as the subject that was (she-haya) ‘walking’ in the garden (as opposed to the sound).'

Based on these comments, it might have been God metaphorically walking in the Garden and making a 'sound', or it might be God, literally having walked in the Garden of Eden, 'as opposed to the sound'. 

Cited 

'This understanding of Rashi is the view of R. Judah Loew (d. 1609). The reason he gives for this interpretation is that the verb: ‘mit-halech,’ in the reflexive form, denotes one who is doing something of one’s own volition. If it would refer to the ‘kol’ (sound), it would have stated: ‘yelech,’ as in Exodus (19:19): ‘The blare of the horn went (‘yelech’) louder and louder.’ To clarify this, Rashi adds: ‘she-haya’ (who was), identifying G-d as the subject that was ‘walking’ in the garden.'

Cited

'A second interpretation of Rashi is by R. David HaLevi Segal (1586–1667), in his commentary Divre Dovid, who argues the complete opposite: Rashi intends, with the additional word: ‘she-hayah’ (that was) that it was the ‘sound’ that was ‘walking’ in the garden, as the midrash argues in the first interpretation: ‘We have heard that walking about [hilukh] is [an expression] used regarding sound.’' 

Cited

'While the word ‘she-hayah’ (that was) can, in theory, apply to either: the words immediately juxtaposed (Ha-shem Elo-kim – G-d), or the earlier word: ‘kol’ (sound), the latter is less p’shat and more midrashic, as indicated from the fact that this view is in fact cited in the midrash. The former is more the plain meaning of the text, as the words are juxtaposed.' 

Cited 

'The two interpretations of how to understand Rashi’s intention in his comment explaining what it was that was ‘walking in the garden’ – ‘G-d’ or the ‘voice’ - are reflected in the variants in the manuscripts pertaining to the exact place the word: ‘she-haya’ (that was) is inserted in Rashi’s comment: In MS. Opp. 14 (1340), ‘she-haya’ (that was) is found, as in the printed version, between ‘G-d’ and ‘walking,’ suggesting the possibility it was the ‘sound’ that was ‘walking’ (travelling) in the garden, as per the view of R. David HaLevi Segal. They heard the sound of G-d walking (mit-ha-lech) about in the garden at the breezy time of day' 

Cited

'In other manuscripts, however, it makes it abundantly clear that the intension of Rashi is to interpret the verse that it was G-d who was walking in the garden. In CCCMS165, it states: ‘they heard the sound of the Holy one, blessed be He, that (she-hayah) the Holy one, blessed be He was walking in the garden.’ The double expression: ‘the Holy one, blessed be He’ before and after ‘she-hayah’ (who was) makes abundantly clear that the intension of Rashi is that it was G-d who was walking in the garden. Rashi MS Munich 5, Leiden 1, BL 26917 also follows this wording. Similarly, in MS. Oppenheim 34 (1201-1225), it states: ‘they heard the sound’ and then writes: ‘she-hayah’ (that) the Holy one, blessed be He was walking in the garden. Even though it states ‘the Holy one, blessed be He’ just once, unlike CCCMS165, the placing of the word: ‘she-hayah’ (that) before the words: ‘the Holy one, blessed be He,’ makes clear that the intension of Rashi is that it was G-d who was walking in the garden.' 

Cited 

'Reflecting the ambiguity in the intention of Rashi, MS. Canon. Or. 81 and MS Canon. Or. 35 (1401-1425), omits the word: ‘she-hayah’ (that was) all-together; MS. Michael 384 (1399) goes further and omits, not only the word: ‘she-hayah’ (that was), but the whole (second) comment on the verse: ‘and they heard the sound of G-d walking in the garden at the breezy time of day. Similarly, MS. Opp. 35 (1408) omits ‘in the garden’ (be-gan), writing only: ‘they heard the voice, the Holy one, blessed be He, was (ha-yah) walking (mit-ha-lech) at the breezy time of day.’ This suggests ‘walking’ refers to the sound that was heard at a specific time of day – ‘the breezy time of day’ (l’ru-ach ha-yom), but not saying anything about ‘G-d’ or the ’sound’ in reference to going in the garden. In this regard, the manuscript may be suggesting, as per the interpretation of R. Jonah ibn Janah and R. Jonah ibn Ganach, mentioned above, that it is referring to the ‘man’ who is ‘in the garden’ whom ‘hears the sound of G-d at the breezy time of day,’ avoiding the above dispute.' 

Cited

'It would seem that the two ways to understand Rashi’s interpretation of ‘the voice of G-d going in the garden’ – midrashic, referring to the ‘voice,’ or literal, referring to ‘G-d,’ as proposed by R. Judah Loew and R. David Segal are reflected in our opening question: is Rashi on Genesis 3:8 exclusively p’shat, as it appears from the many of the manuscripts, as explaind earlier, or embraces midrash, albeit only when they explain the words of Scripture.' 

This website referenced

[1] Oxford MS. Opp. 218. 

[2] See: https://www.thetorah.com/article/rashi-on-the-torah-what-kind-of-commentary-is-it. 

[3] See Mishnah Kiddushin 3:4: ‘Rabbi Ḥanina ben Gamliel says: it was necessary to state the matter, as otherwise, it might have meant (b’mash’ma) that they will not inherit even in the land of Canaan.’ Also, Bechorot 9:1: ‘the verse states: “And all the tithe of the herd or the flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be sacred to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:32), indicating that with regard to animal tithe, all animals that are included in the term flock are (mash-ma) one species.’ According to this, there may be differences in the use of this word amongst the manuscripts: When employed without the prefix ‘kaf,’ it means: ‘its meaning,’ not necessarily ‘plain meaning.’ This is found in Rashi on Leviticus 11:10: ‘The prolific creatures (she-retz): Everywhere this word denotes (mash-ma’o) a low (small) being that creeps and moves along upon the ground.’ With the prefix ‘kaf’ (‘k’mash’ma’o’), as found in MS. Canon. 81, combined with the mention of the intention to follow p’shat, as in MS. Canon. Or. 35, it seems clear that the intention of the use of the word is plain meaning.'
---

End citations

Reading through this second set of Hebrew interpretations, again, God may have metaphorically walked through the Garden of Eden, as a sound. However, it might actually be a more literal interpretation of God actually having walked through the Garden of Eden. 

So, based on the Rabbis first main point: Did God take human form to walk in Genesis 3: 8? 

From a Hebrew, Judaism, perspective?

Possibly.

--- 


Cited

Englishman's Concordance 

Genesis 3:8 

HEB: יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהִ֛ים מִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בַּגָּ֖ן לְר֣וּחַ 

NAS: God walking in the garden 

KJV: God walking in the garden 

INT: of the LORD God walking the garden the cool 

Strong's Lexicon 

halak: To go, walk, come, proceed, move 

Original Word: הָלַךְ 
Part of Speech: Verb 
Transliteration: halak 
Pronunciation: hah-lahk 
Phonetic Spelling: (haw-lak') 
Definition: To go, walk, come, proceed, move
Meaning: to walk
---

From my Reformed theological perspective, God is infinite, eternal and spirit. Prior to any creation of time, space, or matter, prior to Genesis 1; or any angelic creation, prior to Genesis 1, God was spirit (John 4: 24) and God can only be spirit, in a pure ontological sense. God was and is infinite, eternal spirit. God is not logically prohibited from possibly taking human form in Genesis 3. If this is a literal example of God walking in the Garden of Eden, it is a theophany, which is the appearance of God in human form. God's infinite, eternal, ontological nature would also not prohibit God, as God the Son, a distinction within the Godhead, within the incarnation, as taking a finite, everlasting human body.  A body that was crucified and resurrected. The two natures of Jesus Christ, do not mix. In basic agreement with the Rabbi, I think, ontologically, I reason that it is impossible for God, as infinite, to have finite attributes, and it is impossible for a human being, as finite, to have infinite attributes.

If Christianity claimed that the two natures, one divine, one human, mixed it would be philosophical, theological, error, but that is not the claim.

Why then did Jesus Christ as Godman, allow worship? 

His deity was incarnate, not mixed or missing.

Colossians 2:9-10 (Him is Jesus Christ) 'New American Standard Bible (NASB) 

9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made [a]complete, and He is the head [b]over all rule and authority; 

Footnotes: Colossians 2:10 Lit full Colossians 2:10 Lit of ' 

N.T. Wright explains in regard to Colossians 2: 9-10, it is an continuation of 1:19 (109), 'for all the fulness to dwell in him.' (NASB). 'He is uniquely God's presence and his very self'. (109). Wright reasons that Paul is teaching monotheistic doctrine here and not that Jesus Christ is a second deity. (109). Christ is the embodiment of full deity. (109). God the Son, is not a second deity, God the Holy Spirit is not a third deity. 

Based on this section of scripture, a proper interpretation is that although the Father can be reasonably defined as the planner, all of God in nature is involved in the planning process in a sense; in infinite knowledge and agreement. The infinite nature of God in the three distinctions is fully aware of plans. The Godhead is involved in the atoning and resurrection work of Christ, even though it was Jesus Christ that died on the cross and was resurrected. Jesus Christ, the Word (John 1) remains infinite, eternal God in spirit, and became God incarnate, finite man. 

Acts 2: 24 states that God raised Him (Jesus Christ) from the dead and in the process defeated death. 

From Hebrews 1: Greek scholar Walter Bauer defines 'Hupostasis' the original ὑπόστασις, (εως, ἡit) from the Greek as substantial nature, essence, actual being, reality. In the context of Hebrews 1: 3 the Son of God is the exact representation of God’s real being. (page 847). Erickson further explains that each member of the Trinity is quantitatively equal. Erickson (1994: 337). 

Matthew 28: 19-20 and Acts 5 are two examples from the New Testament demonstrating the Holy Spirit as God. 

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Matthew 28:19-20 

19 [a]Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you [b]always, even to the end of the age.” 

a Matthew 28:19 Or Having gone; Gr aorist part. 
b Matthew 28:20 Lit all the days 

Acts 5: 2-6 

It is stated that one can lie to the Holy Spirit (verse 3) and therefore lie to God. 'You have not lied to men, but to God.' (verse 4). All three distinctions within the trinity are infinite, of one ontological (existence and being) essence and nature, and yet with distinctions. As God is eternally relational, humanity in specifically relational in the context of being made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1-26-27). God could create finite creatures capable of relationship and communication, because that is also an aspect of God's nature. 

Video Point 2

'do you know of any Christian nations that live by this impractical epic'

I do not know of one, what I would consider a biblical, New Testament, Christian, nation.

Very few people are actually regenerate (John 3, Titus 3, 1 Peter 1, as New Testament, regeneration, examples), biblical, New Testament, Christians. Western nations are primarily secular, not Christian. Western nations, overwhelmingly, do not follow biblical, New Testament, Christianity. 

Video Point 3

'he (God, my add) cannot die he cannot suffer'

True. 

This does not logically or reasonably prohibit God from incarnating himself. Again, the infinite and finite natures of God the Son, Jesus Christ, do not mix. Christian orthodox, doctrine and theology, does not teach that God can die, rather that God is immutable. 

From my PhD footnotes 

2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter (Link below)

'The concept that God cannot change is one of immutability. God cannot change in ‘attributes, consciousness, and will.’ Thiessen (1956: 127). The idea being that God does not change or develop, but some scholars reason this understanding is to be more attributed to influences from Greek philosophy than the Bible. Grenz, Guretzki and Nordling (1999: 64). Some reason, as do I, that God is eternally immutable, but can change in how he deals within temporal situations with finite beings. Grenz, Guretzki and Nordling (1999: 64).'
---

End citation

The trinity is not a pagan notion. Tritheism is not New Testament doctrine. All three distinctions within the trinity are infinite, of one ontological (existence and being) essence and nature, and yet with distinctions. Finite, sinful and imperfect humanity needs God's enlightenment from revelation to reasonably know God and to have significant intellectual understanding. God is scripturally, in the New Testament, specifically, revealed in three distinctions and three persons, properly biblically defined. This is not completely understandable for the finite mind, but it is reasonable to the finite mind. 

The incarnation of Jesus Christ has the infinite, eternal Word of God (John 1) take upon a finite human nature without the infinite divine nature and finite human nature, mixing. Therefore, Jesus Christ remains infinite, eternal God, but with two natures as both deity and incarnated man. God as trinity is relational in nature and therefore humanity is made in God's image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). Humanity is therefore specifically relational and rational in the context of being made in the image and likeness of God. The infinite God could create finite creatures capable of relationship and communication in rationality, because being relational and rational is also an aspect of God's nature.

Video Point 4

'can bring forgiveness to a person's sin'

The Rabbi states that each man must repent of his sins alone. But, the Hebrew, Mosaic law and sacrificial system was continual and was ended by the destruction of the temple, not by a final atoning act of God, sanctioned within Judaism. The sins of humanity were never fully paid for within the law. With no temple post AD 70, without the sacrificial system, repentance, or any kind of works righteousness, does not cause salvation. New Testament repentance is within salvation, not for salvation. Abraham in Romans 4 was not justified by works (1-6), but was righteous, justified by faith through grace (16) in God.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Hebrews 10 1-4

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the [a]form of those things itself, [b]can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? 3 But in [c]those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 

a Hebrews 10:1 Lit image
b Hebrews 10:1 One early ms they can
c Hebrews 10:3 Lit them there is

Hebrews 8:13 

By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. 

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things [a]having come, He entered through the greater and more perfect [b]tabernacle, not made by hands, that is, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all time, [c]having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the [d]ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the [e]cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through [f]the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 

a Hebrews 9:11 One early ms to come 
b Hebrews 9:11 Or sacred tent 
c Hebrews 9:12 Or obtaining 
d Hebrews 9:13 I.e., ashes mixed in water 
e Hebrews 9:13 Lit purity 
f Hebrews 9:14 Or His eternal spirit

In regards to the law...

Galatians 3:23-28 

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a [a]tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is [b]neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

a Galatians 3:25 Lit child-conductor 
b Galatians 3:28 Lit not male and female

As Jesus Christ was the eternal, infinite God the Word (John 1) and God the Son, he could outlast any finite sin, as a finite, perfect, human atoning, sacrifice on the cross. His documented resurrection in the New Testament, as religious history, testifies to the success of his atoning work.

As well, my philosophy of religion studies, as my MPhil/PhD work was both philosophical theology and philosophy of religion, informs me that God is necessary and perfect and human finite creation is contingent and imperfect (whether one calls it sin or not). Why should any unnecessary, finite, sinful person have everlasting life? What will perfect his/her corrupted human nature without applied atonement and resurrection? Theistic philosophy of religion just adds to my biblical and theological findings. I highly doubt, that without a specific way of salvation, revealed from God, and brought about by God alone, that any form of human works righteousness, or religious ritual will save anyone for post-mortem life with God, within a Kingdom of God. It is the applied atoning, resurrection work of God himself, through divine regeneration, that saves anyone. Not by human works, Ephesians 2, but for good human works within salvation.


Vancouver, February 22, 2025

Bibliography 

BAUER, WALTER. (1979) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translated by Eric H. Wahlstrom, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.

BAVINCK, HERMAN (1918)(2006) Reformed Dogmatics Volume 2: God and Creation, John Bolt (gen.ed.), Translated by John Vriend, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids. 

BAVINCK, HERMAN (1918)(2006) Reformed Dogmatics Volume 3: Sin and Salvation in Christ, John Bolt (gen.ed.), Translated by John Vriend, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids. 

BOWMAN, ROBERT M. (1990) Why You Should Believe in the Trinity, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

BROMILEY, G.W. (1996) ‘Trinity’ in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. 

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville. FOULKES, FRANCIS (1989) Ephesians, Grand Rapids, Inter-Varsity Press.

ELLISON, H.L. (1986) ‘Genesis’, in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. 

FRANKE, JOHN R. (2005) The Character of Theology, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.

GRENZ, STANLEY J., DAVID GURETZKI AND CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press.

GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

HAMILTON, VICTOR P. (1988) Handbook on the Pentateuch, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. 

HARPUR, GEORGE (1986) Ephesians in The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

HUGHES, PHILIP, EDGCUMBE (1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

KAVANAGH, AIDAN (1999) ‘Initiation, Christian’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd. 

KIERKEGAARD, SOREN (1847-1848)(1955)(1966) On Authority and Revelation, Translated by Walter Lowrie, New York, Harper and Row, Publishers, Incorporated. 

KIERKEGAARD, SOREN (1848-1849)(1961) Christian Discourses & The Lilies of the Field and The Birds of the Air & Three Discourses at The Communion on Fridays, Translated by Walter Lowrie, New York, Oxford University Press. 

KLEIN, WILLIAM W., CRAIG, C. BLOMBERG, AND ROBERT L. HUBBARD, JR. (1993) Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, London, Word Publishing.

LA SOR, WILLIAM SANFORD, DAVID ALLAN HUBBARD, AND FREDERIC WILLIAM BUSH. (1987) Old Testament Survey, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MURRAY, JOHN (1937-1966)(1977) Collected Writings of John Murray, Vol. 2: Select Lectures in Systematic Theology, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust. 

PACKER, J.I. (1996) ‘Regeneration’ in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

SCHLEIERMACHER, FRIEDRICH (1799)(1961) On Religion, in Elie Kedourie, Nationalism, New York, Praeger University Series. 

SCHLEIERMACHER, FRIEDRICH (1821)(1928)(1976) The Christian Faith, Edited by H.R. Mackintosh and J.S. Stewart, Philadelphia, Fortress Press. 

SCHRECK, ALAN (1984) Catholic and Christian, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Servant Books. 

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 1, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 2, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.

THIESSEN, HENRY C. (1956) Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

WEBER, OTTO (1955)(1981) Foundations of Dogmatics, Volumes 1 and 2, Translated and annotated by Darrell L. Guder, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

WHALE, J.S. (1958) Christian Doctrine, Glasgow, Fontana Books.

WRIGHT, N.T., Colossians and Philemon, (1986)(1989), IVP, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids.

Referenced articles from this website


Saturday, September 19, 2020 PhD Full Version PDF: Theodicy and Practical Theology 2010, Wales TSD


academia.edu posting on 20250301

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Feminism & The Problem of Evil, Revisited: Satire Und Theology Version

Feminism & The Problem of Evil, Revisited

Preface

Question 25 image

Questionnaire data from my PhD, from a slightly revised Blogger article, 20170403, for an entry on academia.edu, 20250223. My work on feminism was strongly suggested by my tutors for my research in the context of the secular, British University, I was attending.

PhD/MPhil full versions

MPhil, Bangor University, 2003: The Problem of Evil: Baptist and Anglican Perspectives.

PhD, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter, 2010: Theodicy and Practical Theology.

Questions and graphs from the PhD

Question 25: Scripture describes women as more evil than men

One hundred and thirty-four (62.9%) respondents selected ‘DS’ and fifty-one (23.9%) chose ‘D’. So 86.8% of completed questionnaires contain the view that Scripture does not describe women as more evil than men.

This proposition was soundly rejected. Only 11 (5.2%) persons chose ‘AS/A’. Gebara offers a different perspective stating that within Christian tradition, only male sacrifice is valuable. She also notes that women symbolically have often been represented as weak and ‘evil.’ Biblically, although Christ was male, he died for both genders within Christian tradition. Additionally, within Gebara’s own Roman Catholic tradition, Mary is known as the ‘Mother of God.’ Within this view, Mary is recognized and praised as Jesus was born of a truly ‘human mother.’ This is a key example of a woman being highly esteemed within Gebara’s tradition, and therefore, although I do not dismiss her comments, they should be considered cautiously.

Question 29: God desires that women’s sufferings be understood

Many respondents, 140 (65.7%) supported this idea while only 16 (7.5%) opposed it with a choice of ‘D/DS’. Fifty-seven (26.7%) were ‘NC’. Gebara writes that Biblical Scripture, which emphasizes differences between male and female, has led to a ‘hierarchical dualism’ that is used to exclude women. Gebara reasons evils experienced by women are often linked with the idea they are considered a second, less valuable sex. Gebara’s comments demonstrate that her particular feminist views are not supported by the majority of my respondents.

Question 33: God desires women to have influence in the Church

One hundred and ninety-five (91.6%) persons supported this proposition; 101 (47.4%) agreed strongly with the question. This question was not dealing with thorny issues of women leadership such as being elders and pastors, but was simply dealing with the broader idea of general influence. Therefore, in my estimation, this strong support for the proposition is because the idea of female influence will not cause disagreement between conservative and liberal wings in the Christian Church.

Mennonite New Testament scholar, Willard M. Swartley (1983) reasons ‘the concept of equality’ for women is present in the New Testament, but he asks what these concepts mean in regard to ‘social, political and economic’ contexts. Swartley also ponders on what equality for women means within the Biblical ancient texts, and what it should mean today. Individual churches need to consider concepts of equality for women with men, when deciding where women should have greater influence.

Question 37: God dislikes women being viewed as sex objects

One hundred and eighty-nine (88.7%) respondents supported this proposition; 136 (63.8%) chose ‘AS’. Only 8 (3.8%) persons, four from each category, disagreed. Gebara notes some women have high value as objects of ‘enjoyment’ and ‘pleasure’ or on the flip side, ‘revenge’ and ‘hate.’ She lists prostitution as an example of women being viewed as ‘merchandise.’

Question 41: Christian thought has been dominated by men

One hundred and forty-four (67.6%) respondents chose ‘AS/A’, 44 (20.7%) persons chose ‘D/DS’. This question can be related back to my earlier comments regarding how difficult it is for women to become senior pastors. The concept of ‘Christian thought’ within this question is not necessarily regarding professional leadership alone, but is presented in the context of both professional leadership and lay teaching.

Question 45: Women need freedom from male authority

Seventy-one (33.3%) persons chose ‘AS/A’, while over twenty percent of respondents were ‘NC’ (21.2%). Over forty-five percent (45.5%) of persons were not in support of this idea. Admittedly, this is a strongly worded statement, but two denominations were in support of this idea with a majority. Anglican respondents with 10 out of 18 (55.5%) supported it, as did United Church of Canada respondents with 8 out of 8 (100%). Twenty-nine of forty-eight persons (60.4%) surveyed in my non-denominational group choose ‘D/DS’ for this question. As alluded to earlier, this non-denominational group is not an actual denomination, but some of these persons were from independent, fundamentalist Baptist churches in the United States that have very conservative views that would minimally preclude women from elder and clergy positions. 

Question 52: Churches should assist exploited women

One hundred and forty-one (66.2%) chose ‘5’ as an option. With adding another 36 (16.9%) that chose ‘4’, this brings the total to 177 persons (83%) that supported this idea. Gebara explains that the Church should understand the physical, psychological, and social suffering of women in regard to the cross. The community suffering of women needs to be understood, and this obviously should include those persons that need extra assistance.


Question 25

















Question 29

















Question 33

















Question 37

















Question 41

















Question 45

















Question 52

















ANDERSON, RAY S. (2001) The Shape of Practical Theology, Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press. 

BLOESCH, DONALD G. (1987) Freedom for Obedience, San Francisco, Harper and Rowe Publishers. 

BRYMAN, ALAN (2004) Social Research Methods, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

CHOPP, REBECCA S. (1995) Saving Work, Louisville, Kentucky, Westminster John Knox Press. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. 

GEBARA, IVONE (2002) Out of the Depths, Translated by Ann Patrick Ware, Minneapolis, Fortress Press. 

LANGER, SUSANNE K (1953)(1967) An Introduction to Symbolic Logic, Dover Publications, New York. (Philosophy). 

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London. 

SWARTLEY, WILLARD M. (1983) Slavery Sabbath War Women, Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania. 

THIESSEN, HENRY C. (1956) Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

WHALE, J.S. (1958) Christian Doctrine, Glasgow, Fontana Books.

Saturday, February 15, 2025

Are we on shifting ground?: Satire Und Theology Version

Are we on shifting ground?

Amsterdam (2025) photo from Civil Engineering Discoveries, LinkedIn 

Preface

Originally published 20170730, revised on Blogger for an entry on academia.edu, 20250215.

The Pirie entry by entry review continues...

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.

The Definitional Retreat

'A definitional retreat takes place when someone changes the meaning of the words in order to deal with an objection raised against the original wording. By changing the meaning, he turns it into a different statement.' Pirie uses an example: 'When I said I hadn't been drinking, officer, I meant that I hadn't had more than I get through in a normal social evening.' (77-78). 

My examples: 

When I said I was a Christian, I meant that I think there is probably a God. 

When I said you were fat, I meant that you were phat, as in excellent. 

The author explains that a definitional retreat allows a person to save face when their argument has been demonstrated to significantly lack merit. (78). Pirie reasons that philosophers often change definitions when shown as questionable. (78). Definitions are not to be subjective, they have objective meanings. This is a reason I revise my writing, because sometimes corrections have to be made in premises, conclusions and reasoning. 

Definition twisting, does not assist with my pursuit of the truth. My revisions are documented when significant. I admit that minor revisions are often made after publish, because some problems are not apparent until after publish. That is a visual issue, not an integrity one. But if I do change my mind...it is better to revise statements and/or arguments when needed and to note it. 

Pirie mentions that UK finance ministers are good at the use of this fallacy. (79). They use definitional retreat. I think politicians often use fallacies when definitions are changed to portray a different story. Statistics can be stated to mean one thing in January and something else in December. 

Shifting ground?

When making arguments, people may hedge with ambiguous premises. (185). Or people may use a definitional retreat to make words within premises mean something else. (185). A type of this defensive type of argumentation is to use shifting ground. (185). This fallacy is used with attempts to avoid criticism of an original premise (s) by shifting the meaning of premise or premises. (185). This would require a new critique of the argument. (185).

My examples:

Premise: I think x is a bad thing.

Conclusion: Yes, x should be banned.

After negative critique from others, the shifting ground fallacy is used:

Premise: Rather, x is usually a bad thing.

Conclusion: Well, x should probably be banned, anyway.

As Pirie explains the arguer will change the ground he/her is standing on and still maintain the continuity of the argument. (185). It is fallacious to change the substance of what is being stated.

In my example, the premise shifts from 'is a bad thing', to 'is usually a bad thing'.

The conclusion shifts from 'should be banned' to 'should probably be banned, anyway'.

Based on my years of discussion and debating, this is a tempting fallacy for intellectual and non-intellectuals, alike, to use as defence. As with my writing on my websites, sometimes arguments simply require edits in humility. The person in my example is attempting to save face, when he/she should more likely reconsider the entire line of reasoning.

Pirie opines that politicians at times use the shifting ground fallacy rather than admit that he/she changed their mind. (186). The shifting ground fallacy is often used when one cannot prove his/her point but does not want to appear to be wrong, or admit he/she is wrong. (186).

Collins

Cited

'in American English'

'shift ground to change position in an argument or situation' 

2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd'
---

Hedging


'Hedging in arguments means sheltering behind ambiguous meanings so that the sense can be changed later.' (120). To paraphrase the author's example: We stated we did not want a full-fledged war in the Middle East; that is still the position, we entered into limited war. (120). This type of argumentation allows for a 'definitional retreat.' (120). 'Hedging is fallacious because it puts two or more different statements under the guise of one'. (120). It is a semantic game in parsing the difference between a 'limited war' and a 'full-fledged' war. Is any war 'full-fledged' without nuclear weapons? Hedging hopes that the reviewer of argumentation, will not know better (120); the information presented becomes useless because it is not presented accurately. (120). To avoid hedging one could state: 'We are entering into war; we are committed.' Or: 'We are not entering into war, because the risks are too great.' Hedging again... We stated we did not want to colonize Mars, that is still the position, but we have several Mars space missions planned. 

Interestingly, Pirie indicates that Nostradamus used hedging to make obscure predictions. (121). The author reasons that observers look for what they want to see as far as what has already occurred and apply what Nostradamus predicted. This does not assist in making accurate predictions. (121). Hedging uses dishonesty and ambiguity. (121). 

Logically Fallacious

Cited

Description: Refining your claim simply to avoid counter evidence and then acting as if your revised claim is the same as the original.

Logical Form: Claim X is made. Claim X is refuted. Claim Y is then made and is made to be the same as claim X when it is not.

References: Dowden, B. (n.d.). Fallacies | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from http://www.iep.utm.edu/fallacy/ 
---

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

CONWAY DAVID A. AND RONALD MUNSON (1997) The Elements of Reasoning, Wadsworth Publishing Company, New York. 

LANGER, SUSANNE K (1953)(1967) An Introduction to Symbolic Logic, Dover Publications, New York. (Philosophy). 

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London. 

Saturday, February 08, 2025

Professor David A. Pailin (PhD Edit): Satire Und Theology Version

Trekearth.com: Manchester University
Professor David A. Pailin (PhD Edit)

Originally published on Blogger, 20150317. Revised on Blogger for an entry on academia.edu, 20250208.

Preface

I earned my PhD thesis research degree from the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David at Lampeter, preceded by my MPhil thesis research degree at Bangor University. I had previously, very briefly, worked with Manchester University and my advisor was Professor David Pailin. I did not receive a grade at Manchester University. I used the library there. 

The professor I had agreed to work with in Manchester was away for a year, so with God’s help, I soon signed with the University of Wales and completed the academic work required on two occasions with MPhil and PhD theses at Wales. I lived in Manchester for my most of my stay in the United Kingdom, but completed most of my British academic work in British Columbia through distance learning with no local advisor. I did stay at the PhD campus in Wales on return visits to the United Kingdom and liked Wales very much. Living in Manchester had some benefits such as making church friends and also having Manchester United home membership, as well as viewing Manchester City at home as well. I also toured England with a friend in Manchester that had Arsenal away membership. I continue the football touring with my hopefully yearly British Isles/Europe trips. Staying in Wales had benefits, as Lampeter was isolated and very scenic.

Defence/Defense versus Theodicy

I reason Professor Pailin was correct in stating that academically, within the problem of evil discussion, a defence (approach) versus theodicy (approach) difference was minimal. This is contrary to what I read from Alvin C. Plantinga, although I found Plantinga's work very useful in my MPhil and PhD research. I came to this same conclusion as Professor Pailin myself as both defence and theodicy approaches largely speculate in regard to the problem of evil (more specifically, problems of evil, in my work), as human beings have finite knowledge, in comparison to God’s infinite knowledge. It is true that a theodicy is expected to be more robust and dogmatic. A defence is less dogmatic. I cautiously embedded a theodicy within my PhD relying on Bible, Reformed theology, philosophical theology and philosophy of religion. To Professor Pailin's credit, stating a defence might be true, in comparison to stating a theodicy is true, still means that a defence and theodicy are both are equally speculative, in general terms.

If one studies the problem of evil thoroughly he/she will come across the issue of a defence in regard to the problem, and a theodicy that deals with the problem. Theodicy is the explanation of how the infinite, omnipotent, and perfectly good God accomplishes his plans within his creation where the problem of evil exists. Alvin C. Plantinga differentiates between his own free will defence and a free will theodicy. Plantinga (1977)(2002: 28). He states that his defence is mainly a logical presentation, attempting to maintain logical consistency, whereas theodicy is more dogmatic in approach, Plantinga (1977)(2002: 28). Within my MPhil and PhD dissertations, however, I view defence and theodicy as equally speculative. 

Philip L. Quinn notes that Plantinga’s view of a defence in contrast to theodicy means Plantinga does not speculate on God’s reasons for permitting evil, but merely argues that God’s existence is logically consistent with the problem of evil. Quinn (1996: 611). I agree with Quinn, somewhat. Plantinga is mainly arguing that God’s existence can be shown as logical in regard to the problem of evil with his defence; however, Plantinga as does every scholar with any type of explanation for the topic of the problem of evil, speculates within his defence. Plantinga (1977)(2002: 45-59). This type of speculation is perhaps not done as forcefully as some in theodicy. Plantinga (1977)(2002: 28). I therefore reason that a defence can be reviewed under the umbrella of theodicy and did so within my formal academic work and my website work. Theodicy is by nature somewhat speculative and therefore, theodicy, like a defence, is also dealing with a possible reason for God to permit evil. A theodicy may be more dogmatic than Plantinga’s defence in its assertions and arguments, but it is still speculative, as is my own work on theodicy. Plantinga comments that one who writes a theodicy assumes that it is true, while one who writes a defense is stating that it is possibly true. Plantinga (1982: 192). However, even a person writing the theodicy does not have exhaustive knowledge of God and his reasoning in regard to the problem, and I therefore conclude that theodicy and defence are generally both equally speculative, although perhaps not equally dogmatic.

Process Theology

David A Pailin (1999) explains that within some process theology approaches, God’s existence may be viewed as absolute, necessary and unchanging. However, God’s character can change and is determined through interaction with his creation. Pailin postulates that God’s character can change, as he loves his creatures. Pailin (1999: 469). I disagree, as God is infinite, God is unlimited in nature and character. God does not change, although God as infinite can interact within finite reality that God created. In my view, the divine nature does not have a physical body that can be altered, changed or die, as in John 4:24 where Jesus stated that God is spirit. God does not change as God is infinite, ontologically. I do agree that God does love his creatures, although this love does not from the New Testament, equate to a universal human belief and trusting faith, in the triune God. If one is not regenerate (John 3, Titus 3, 1 Peter 1, as examples) in election (Ephesians 1-2, Romans 8-11, as examples), the love of God, does not suffice for salvation in these cases. Revelation 20-21, although using significantly figurative language, makes it clear that all people whose names are not within the book of life (20: 15) are not part of the post-mortem, everlasting Kingdom of God (21: 27).

Enlightenment

Pailin (1999) writes that since the Enlightenment era, the traditional propositional view of revelation has widely, but not completely, been replaced by the understanding that divine revelation comes through events. Pailin (1999: 505). Enlightenment thinkers tended to reject external sources of knowledge and elevated human reasoning. Biblical doctrines were therefore under suspicion. This view was clearly expressed to me in my few discussions with Professor Pailin. I prefer to seek enlightenment and reason through the direction of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. All truth is God's truth and the Hebrew Bible and New Testament records are revealed, religious history.

Deism

Pailin, defines deism as coming from the Latin word deus and parallels the Greek which is theos. Pailin (1999: 148). In modern times deism is used to define a supreme being who is the ultimate source of reality, but does not intervene in the natural and historical processes through revelation or salvific acts. Pailin (1999: 148). Pailin writes that the common use of the term ‘theism’ does not carry the same negative implications. Pailin (1999: 148). He explains that historically deism is not so much a set of doctrines, but a movement, largely British, that became popular in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Pailin (1999: 148). Many within deism will have doubts concerning concepts of supernatural religious doctrines, revelation and the authority of the Bible. Pailin (1999: 148). Pailin notes that some within deism desire to replace Christianity with a more ‘reasonable’ faith, and for others it is an attempt to produce a more ‘reasonable’ version of Christianity. Pailin (1999: 149).

I respected the Professor's encyclopedic knowledge of philosophy of religion, and have aimed for that myself, as well as focusing on philosophical theology within a Reformed, biblical, tradition. We strongly disagreed on what a reasonable, Christian faith would be. A reasonable, Christian faith and philosophy without a significant trust in scriptural revelation and guidance through the Holy Spirit in life, is more so speculative theism, and deism, in some cases, and not really a biblical Christianity at all. In contrast to a supernaturally revealed Christianity, this is Christianity within Christendom, that does not truly significantly embrace the revealed doctrines and New Testament worldview, based on a reasonable trust, by grace through faith, in the triune God. 

Bibliography

BAVINCK, HERMAN (1918)(2006) Reformed Dogmatics Volume 2: God and Creation, John Bolt (gen.ed.), Translated by John Vriend, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.

BAVINCK, HERMAN (1918)(2006) Reformed Dogmatics Volume 3: Sin and Salvation in Christ, John Bolt (gen.ed.), Translated by John Vriend, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

ERICKSON, MILLARD (2003) What Does God Know and When Does He Know It?, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1986) Predestination and Free Will, in David Basinger and Randall Basinger (eds.), Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press. 

FEINBERG, JOHN S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

FEINBERG, JOHN S. (2001) No One Like Him, John S. Feinberg (gen.ed.), Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Books. 

FRANKE, JOHN R. (2005) The Character of Theology, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.

GEIVETT, R. DOUGLAS (1993) Evil and the Evidence for God, Philadelphia, Temple University Press.

HICK, JOHN (1970) Evil and The God of Love, London, The Fontana Library. 

HICK, JOHN (1978) ‘Present and Future Life’, Harvard Theological Review, Volume 71, Number 1-2, January-April, Harvard University. 

HICK, JOHN (1981) Encountering Evil, Stephen T. Davis (ed.), Atlanta, John Knox Press. 

HICK, JOHN (1993) ‘Afterword’ in GEIVETT, R. DOUGLAS (1993) Evil and the Evidence for God, Philadelphia, Temple University Press.

HICK, JOHN (1993) The Metaphor of God Incarnate, Louisville, Kentucky, John Know Press. 

HICK, JOHN (1994) Death and Eternal Life, Louisville, Kentucky, John Knox Press. 

HICK, JOHN (1999) ‘Life after Death’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press. 

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MURRAY, JOHN (1937-1966)(1977) Collected Writings of John Murray, Vol. 2: Select Lectures in Systematic Theology, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust.

PACKER, J.I. (1996) ‘Regeneration’ in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

PAILIN, DAVID A. (1999) ‘Deism’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd.

PAILIN, DAVID A. (1999) ‘Enlightenment’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd.

PAILIN, DAVID A. (1999) ‘Process Theology’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd. 
 
River Taff, Wales, trekearth

PHILLIPS, D.Z. (1981) Encountering Evil, Stephen T. Davis (ed.), Atlanta, John Knox Press. 

PHILLIPS, D.Z. (2005) The Problem of Evil and the Problem of God, Fortress Press, Minneapolis. 

PLANTINGA, ALVIN.C. (1977)(2002) God, Freedom, and Evil, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

PLANTINGA, ALVIN.C. (1982) The Nature of Necessity, Oxford, Clarendon Press.

QUINN, PHILIP L. (1996) ‘Philosophy of Religion’, Robert Audi (ed.), in The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 1, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 2, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

THIESSEN, HENRY C. (1956) Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

WEBER, OTTO (1955)(1981) Foundations of Dogmatics, Volumes 1 and 2, Translated and annotated by Darrell L. Guder, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

WHALE, J.S. (1958) Christian Doctrine, Glasgow, Fontana Books.

Also referenced for the academia.edu version


David A. Pailin: Wikipedia 

Cited 

David Arthur Pailin (1936–2021) graduated from Trinity College and became a leading British philosopher and theologian. He wrote numerous books, mostly in the 1980s and 1990s. He eventually became head of the Department of Philosophy of the University of Manchester.[1] In his work, he "took a critical realist approach to theology, with particular attention to the possibility of reconstructing a theism that is both credible and significant."[1] One reviewer wrote of his last collection of essays, 1994's Probing the Foundations: A study in Theistic Reconstruction: "The influence of process theology in Europe is restricted to some individuals. David Pailin, professor of philosophy of religion in the University of Manchester, is one of the most important of these."[2] 

References 

1 "Pailin, David Arthur". DMBI: A Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland. 

2 Sarot, M., Review of the book Probing the foundations, Bijdragen: International Journal for Philosophy and Theology, 1997. 

Cited 

Books

'Attitudes to Other Religions: Comparative Religion in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Britain (1984) 

Groundwork of Philosophy of Religion (1986) God and the Processes of Reality (1989) 

The Anthropological Character of Theology (1990) 

A Gentle Touch: From a Theology of Handicap to a Theology of Human Being (1992) 

Probing the Foundations: A study in Theistic Reconstruction (1994)'
 

Saturday, February 01, 2025

Methodology and Post-Modern Influence (PhD edit): Satire Und Theology Version

Methodology and Post-Modern Influence (PhD edit)

Whitby Abbey and Saint Mary's Church (photo from trekearth.com) 

Preface

20090301

So far I have made about 2000 photocopies at Staples copy centre for my PhD revisions. I joke with the employees that it is because I love photocopying. Two of the employees have suggested I work there. In a month's worth of work I have obtained, in my estimation, seventy percent of the materials required to complete revisions. Here is another section of PhD edit that has been trashed from the final copy.

20250201

This section was edited out of my PhD work. Slight revisions of this Blogger version for an entry on academia.edu.

Methodology and Post-Modern Influence: Ray S. Anderson

Post-modernism is a general term used to describe a variety of intellectual and cultural developments in the late twentieth century[1] within Western society.[2] Post-modern views generally embrace pluralism and place value in the diversity within philosophical worldviews and religions that represent modern society.[3] An element of post-modern thought,[4] according to Ray Anderson (2001), is the death of the appreciation of objective truth.[5] Truth is no longer objectively discovered, according to Anderson’s analysis of the times, rather it is experienced.[6] Although, from my Reformed, theological perspective, I do not primarily hold to this view, I can at least acknowledge that there is some truth to Anderson’s claim that truth is not merely objective.[7] I reason that God has revealed objective truth to us in Scripture,[8] but as Anderson explains the human heart is always an element in establishing a person’s mindset.[9]

Erickson explains that although Scripture presents objective truth, the application of Scripture may be different for each person.[10] Even if one reasons that objective truth exists, each person subjectively with his/her own mindset deals with data and knowledge in an individualistic way.[11] There needs to be solid church teachings that adequately explain Biblical doctrines within their original context, staying true to Biblical theology, and yet teaching should be flexible enough to provide explanations that vary at times in order to be relatable to differing modern groups and individuals. Anderson explains three ways in which post-modern thought impacts practical theology,[12] and I deduce these are methodological matters.

One, as post-modern thought celebrates diversity, it brings with it the idea of moral relativism. Anderson writes for practical theology, it is still vital that communities and not just individuals are important in gaining knowledge.[13] Anderson explains that since in post-modern thought reason is mistrusted, the truth of the Christian message must be experienced and lived out by those within the church. He writes that belief in the Christian message will take place when it is properly experienced.[14] I do not deny that the Christian faith needs to be adequately experienced within the process of belief, but within this thesis, in regard to theodicy, I have no desire to abandon reason. By examining theoretical theodicy I am reviewing the reasonable nature of each perspective. It is my view that Christian faith/philosophy has greater believability when it is theoretically reasonable and, as Anderson notes, when it is demonstrated as practical.[15] 

Two, a celebration of diversity leads to a demand for tolerance. There is often an objection to claims of universal truth.[16] Tolerance is defined by J.E. Wood Junior (1996) as the indulgence of belief or conduct other than one’s own. This would include respect for the opinions and practices of others when they are in conflict with one’s own.[17] I am in basic agreement with Wood’s definition and reason that various philosophical and religious concepts need to be tolerated in Western society.[18] However, I also agree with Wood as he noted there are disagreements in perspective,[19] and this is where I see the need within philosophical and practical theology for respectful dialogue with use of reason and data. 

Three, secularism has expanded at the expense of ecclesiastical authority in regard to dealing with social problems.[20] Anderson comments that the Holy Spirit needs to subject human hearts to the truth of Scripture.[21] I accept this proposition and realize that there are opportunities within both philosophical and practical theological approaches to teach theology and deal with social issues within a secular framework. The internet and worldwide web is a modern example where theologians, such as myself, respectfully present Biblical and theological data without the official support of any church or ecclesiastical leaders.[22] Certain Christians concentrate on social issues, and not all are necessarily operating under ecclesiastical support. 

[1] Continuing on into the present early twenty-first century. 
[2] Grenz, Guretzki, and Nordling (1999: 93). 
[3] Grenz, Guretzki, and Nordling (1999: 93).
[4] Post-modern thought shall be further discussed in Chapter Six. 
[5] Anderson (2001: 19). 
[6] Anderson (2001: 19). 
[7] Anderson (2001: 20).
[8] Erickson (1994: 251-253). 
[9] Anderson (2001: 20).
[10] Erickson (1994: 253). 
[11] Establishing theological arguments for and against objective truth would be a fascinating thesis, but I do not have the time and space to deal with this issue exhaustively here. I have presented my personal viewpoint on this topic within the tradition I represent.
[12] Anderson (2001: 20).
[13] Anderson (2001: 20).
[14] Anderson (2001: 20).
[15] Anderson (2001: 20).
[16] Anderson (2001: 20).
[17] Wood (1996: 1098).
[18] Wood (1996: 1098). 
[19] Wood (1996: 1098).
[20] Anderson (2001: 20).
[21] Anderson (2001: 20).
[22] Through Blogging and Facebook discussion groups, for example. 

ANDERSON, RAY S. (2001) The Shape of Practical Theology, Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1986) Predestination and Free Will, in David Basinger and Randall Basinger (eds.), Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (2001) No One Like Him, John S. Feinberg (gen.ed.), Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Books.

GRENZ, STANLEY J. DAVID GURETZKI and CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press. 

PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.

POJMAN, LOUIS P. (1996) Philosophy: The Quest for Truth, New York, Wadsworth Publishing Company.

WOOD J.E., JR. (1996) ‘Tolerance’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

Sunday, January 26, 2025

The Orthodox Study Bible: Orthodox Tradition & The Scriptures (Brief): Satire Und Theology Version

The Orthodox Study Bible: Orthodox Tradition & The Scriptures (Brief)

Preface

Originally published 20181009, revised on Blogger for an entry on academia.edu, 20260126.

The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.

Purchased from my former employer, the Canadian Bible Society @ Cafe Logos, Vancouver.

This text review continues...

Five sources of Christian tradition (iv)

In this entry I will deal with the first (1) 

Five sources of Christian tradition (iv): 1. The Holy Scriptures 

Paraphrased:

The Old Testament and New Testament are viewed as the written record and experience of God's people via God's revelation to them. (iv).

I agree.

It is understood that the Church, therefore, wrote the bible. (iv).

I agree, but I hold to the view that the Holy Spirit, guided human writers to produce inspired, inerrant (without error) scripture. Admittedly, with the original autographs which are not extant. But thousands of copied manuscripts of biblical books in whole, or in part, are extant.

Houston Christian University: Dunham Bible Museum 

Cited 

'What is a Manuscript? 

A manuscript is a hand-written document. The word has its origin in Latin: manu (hand) and scriptum (written). There are approximately 5,800 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. In addition, there are 10,000 Latin manuscripts, and 9,300 manuscripts in other languages. The New Testament autographa, the manuscripts written by the original authors, are unavailable, but manuscripts have been discovered that are dated as early as the 2nd century. 

Parchment: writing material made from animal skin (might be lamb, goat, deer, or cow), or Papyrus: a reed plant that grows along the banks of the Nile. There are 1,276 New Testament papyri, the earliest copies of portions of the New Testament. 

Different Formats of Early Scripture

Scroll: a rolled piece of papyrus or parchment. All of the original scriptures were written on scrolls. 

Codex: a book made up of paper, parchment, or papyrus, with one end bound. 

Palimpsest: a manuscript page that has been washed off so that it can be reused./

End citation
---

Basically, my Reformed view agrees with Orthodoxy in a denial of dictation theory, in regard to biblical inspiration.


Cited

'Bob Wilkin (ThM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is the Founder and Executive Director of Grace Evangelical Society and co-host of Grace in Focus Radio. He lives in Highland Village, TX with his wife, Sharon. His latest books are Faith Alone in One Hundred Verses and Turn and Live: The Power of Repentance.'

Cited

'It has been well publicized that there are over 5,000 Greek manuscripts of the NT. The manuscripts we have today were created between AD 125 and AD 1516. Scribes copied by hand the books of the NT. The first copies were made directly from the original manuscripts. Then those copies were copied. 

The number of available copied manuscripts has grown as new copies are discovered every year. It is now commonly reported that there are about 5,800 manuscripts of the NT. In addition, there are 10,000 ancient Latin manuscripts (translations of the early Greek manuscripts) and 9,300 ancient manuscripts in other languages (e.g., Coptic, Syriac, Ethiopic). And the church fathers quoted nearly every verse in the NT in their writings.

The time between the writing of the original manuscripts of the NT and their earliest copies is between 100 and 200 years. Compare that to other major works of antiquity, whose earliest copies date to over 1,000 years after the books were written. 

One fact that has not been published widely is the number of individual books for which we have complete Greek manuscripts. We do not have 5,800 complete manuscripts of any book in the NT. Many manuscripts–such as the Gospels or Paul’s letters–contain only a portion of the book. 

I asked Dr. Wilbur Pickering, an expert on the text of the NT, how many manuscripts we have for the various portions of the NT. Here is his answer: 

There are around 2,000 manuscripts (MSS) containing the Gospels; because of fragments and lacunae, for any given verse (e.g., John 3:16) there are around 1,700. 

There are around 800 MSS containing the Pauline corpus. 

There are around 650 MSS containing Acts. 

There are around 600 MSS containing the General Epistles. 

There are around 300 MSS containing the Apocalypse.i

i Personal correspondence (email) from Dr. Pickering on December 25, 2022.'

The Orthodox Bible states that the scripture was inspired by God, but was not written directly by God. (iv).

This disagrees with segments of Christian fundamentalism and dictation theory. A dictation theory reasoning the scribe/writer merely writes/transmits what God has dictated; but the denial of dictation theory is very reasonable considering the human aspects in writing the scripture. For example, the Apostle Paul, as a Hebrew Bible scholar, was chosen to write many of the more theological sections and books of the New Testament, such as Romans. Reasonably, even as Paul was guided by the triune God, including God the Holy Spirit, to write certain New Testament letters, Paul's mind was used in the writing process.

God verbally inspires all Scripture Erickson (1994: 219). Each human writer (or his scribe) had a distinctive human style. Erickson (1994: 217). But this does not make Biblical vocabulary and content, therefore exclusively human. Erickson (1994: 218). God inspires a certain author to write certain things, but as Erickson points out, God had been influencing and working on that author for a long period of time. Erickson (1994: 218). God definitely directed the writing of the author, but it is not dictation as if God was bypassing the education and thoughts of the author. The writers of Scripture were not persons without individuality. 

Thiessen states the dictation theory ignores the stylistic difference in authors. Thiessen (1956: 106). The stylistic differences are apparent with scriptural analysis of biblical languages. Thiessen dismisses the idea of a dictation theory of Scriptural inspiration, as the writers of Scripture were not persons that merely had divine information dictated to them. Thiessen (1956: 106). The writers of Scripture were not ‘mere secretaries’ that wrote words dictated to them by the Holy Spirit. Lindsell (1976: 32). It can therefore be reasoned it is not the Holy Spirit’s grammar being used. Thiessen (1956: 106). People were not robotically inspired to write Scripture. The distinctive style of Biblical writers based on the study of original languages makes the dictation theory quite unlikely. Erickson (1994: 207). 

The concept of Biblical inspiration, with the Holy Spirit serving as guidance for the Biblical writer, seems both orthodox and reasonable. Thiessen (1956: 106). Lindsell (1976: 30). The Biblical authors had full use of their intellect and used their own grammar, but were guided to write God’s word without error and omission. Thiessen (1956: 106). The Scripture was presented accurately via inspiration, states Erickson. Erickson (1994: 199). J.I. Packer reasons God and Christ sent the Holy Spirit to teach his people the truth and to save them from error. Packer (1973: 61). The Holy Spirit guided the thoughts of Biblical writers. Erickson (1994: 215). Shedd names this basic theory of Biblical inspiration as ‘plenary inspiration’ meaning writers were moved by the Holy Spirit in respect to thought and language and were kept from error. Shedd (1874-1890)(1980: 72 Volume 1).

The Orthodox Study Bible explains that the scriptures did not fall from heaven, completed. (iv).

Agreed. Nor are the original autographs maintained supernaturally, but the scripture is maintained, reasonably via copying and scholarship.

They were written by human beings that were inspired by God. (iv).

Agreed.

The scriptures were written by God's people. (iv).

Agreed. As I have noted in my writings, the scriptures were written by those within the Christian Church community.

These scriptures need to be interpreted within the context of the Christian Church. (v).

Agreed. This same principle was taught to me with my Bachelor of Arts, degree in Biblical Studies at Columbia Bible College, within the Mennonite Brethren tradition.

For Orthodoxy, the Bible is the first source within the Christian tradition. (v). For example, Many conservative, Protestant traditions would also see the Bible as the first source, and final authority of religious truth, but would not generally emphasize tradition to the same extent as the Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church.

Tradition, in my view, is especially downplayed in many modern, evangelical, charismatic and non-denominational contexts, that attempt to not be 'religious'. As if philosophically, the gospel cannot be presented within a religion, that is the true religion.

As I have noted online, I prefer the designation of Christianity as a religion as it provides credibility to Christianity within Religious Studies as an academic discipline. An academic discipline as is Philosophy of Religion, Theology, the Sciences, etcetera.
---

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (2003) What Does God Know and When Does He Know It?, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

GEISLER, NORMAN L. (1975) Philosophy of Religion, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

GEISLER, NORMAN L. (1978) The Roots of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

GEISLER, NORMAN L. (1986) Predestination and Free Will, Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press. 

GEISLER, NORMAN L. (1996) ‘Freedom, Free Will, and Determinism’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books. 

GEISLER, NORMAN, L (1999) ‘The Problem of Evil’, in Baker Encyclopedia of Apologetics, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

LEIBNIZ, G.W. (1710)(1998) Theodicy, Translated by E.M. Huggard Chicago, Open Court Classics. 

LINDSELL, HAROLD (1976) The Battle for the Bible, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

PACKER, J.I. (1996) ‘Regeneration’ in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books. 

PACKER, J.I. (1973) Knowing God, Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press. 

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 1, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 2, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy,Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.

THIESSEN, HENRY C. (1956) Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.